Jonah: God's Plans Cannot Be Stopped

"And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And

Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." Jonah 1:17

How would you define God's sovereignty? Arthur Pink, an old and wonderful theologian, defines God's sovereignty as "the outworking of his supremacy." Well, that cleared things up, didn't it? Maybe not. What Pink is saying here is that God's sovereignty is the natural outcome of his supremacy, that is, the fact that he is fully supreme and greater than everything in this world. Thus, because the Lord is greater than everything in this world, the natural consequence of his greatness or supremacy is his sovereignty, a doctrine that we find displayed so clearly throughout the book of Jonah, which we turn to now.

In the book of Jonah, we find a character that many people often cling to. Jonah was a man who enjoyed running from responsibility, which you and I do every day. He was called to preach to Nineveh, but he didn't want to go. You see, Nineveh was the sworn enemy of the Israelites, and thus Jonah didn't want the Lord to save them, but rather destroy them. So rather than going and preaching to Nineveh, Jonah charts his own path. Yet, in the great sovereignty of the Lord, all this does is find Jonah in the belly of a great fish. Surely God has his hand on every situation.

Yet, the story doesn't stop there (although it often does in our minds). In chapters three and four of Jonah, we see God's sovereignty as well. The word of the Lord comes to Jonah a second time, and this time Jonah obeys, although certainly not with a willing heart. The people of Nineveh hear the command of the LORD to repent, and they obey (in contrast to Jonah). God saves them, but rather than this leading to Jonah's rejoicing, Jonah is nothing but angry. Thus, God decides to give Jonah a lesson about priorities and what he should care about. After Jonah started a pity party for himself, God causes a tree to grow to give him shade. Sounds pretty great, doesn't it? But quickly, the Lord causes the tree to die so that Jonah burns in the heat. Weird story, is it not? But God shows us that point in the final verses of the chapter: that if Jonah, as a sinful man, pitied the life of a tree which he did not labor or work for, how much more should God care for the Ninevites, who are helpless without the Lord?

Although much, much more could be said about this little book, I believe the point of all of it is clear: God's plans cannot be stopped. Although men, even Christian men, will disobey and rebel against the Lord, God's will will be done. There is nothing outside of God's view, and certainly nothing outside his sovereignty. What he desires will come to pass--there is no doubt about it.

What comfort does this doctrine bring to us today! For Romans 8:28, and many other passages, speak to us about God's goodness towards us. If God is for us, who can be against us? And if God is for us and he is sovereign over everything, then what have we to worry? What have we to fret? Surely there is great comfort found in the truth of God's sovereignty.

Yet, let us realize the great conviction that God's sovereignty brings to us as well. As Jonah learned, we cannot run from the Lord's plan for our lives. Although we might often try, God will not let us win. Thus, we must not learn the lesson of obedience the hard way, but rather the simple way. Would you not rather obey the Lord the first time when he calls you, rather than being caught in the belly of a fish? I entreat you, dear child of God, simply obey the Lord for all he is worth rather than run from his plans for you! To such obedience you have been called. Amen!